Costa Rica → San José

Best Hospitals in
San José

Find the right hospital for your medical treatment in San José — compare costs, read reviews, and book consultations.

Browse Hospitals

17,331+

Hospitals

25+

Specialities

26+

Countries

18,234+

Enquiries Served

Treatments

Medical Treatments in San José

San José is the medical hub for international tourists for the following medical treatments

Cardiology

Orthopaedics

Oncology

Neurology

Gastroenterology

Ophthalmologists

Psychiatry

Dermatology

Nephrology

Otorhinolaryngology

Neonatology

Pediatrics

Stomatology

Podiatry

Urology

Hepatology

Microbiology

Proctology

Rheumatology

Otolaryngology

Pulmonology

Venereology

Gynaecology

Perinatology

Anaesthesiology

Cost Guide

Cost of Living in San José

Real-world costs to help you plan your medical trip — from hospital stays to daily meals

71%

Cheaper than USA
on average

88%

Healthcare
savings vs USA

₡144,000

Hospital Room
per day

₡24,000

Budget Hotel
per night

Show US comparison

Food & Dining Costs (₡)

Business Lunch

₡6,720 ↓28%

US ₡9,360

Budget Meal

₡3,840 ↓38%

US ₡6,240

Cheap Restaurant

₡4,320 ↓45%

US ₡7,800

Water Bottle (1.5L)

₡672 ↓35%

US ₡1,040

Coffee (Café)

₡1,920 ↓26%

US ₡2,600

Groceries (Weekly)

₡33,600 ↓46%

US ₡62,400

Item	₡	vs US
Business Lunch	6,720	28% less
Budget Meal	3,840	38% less
Cheap Restaurant	4,320	45% less
Water Bottle (1.5L)	672	35% less
Coffee (Café)	1,920	26% less
Groceries (Weekly)	33,600	46% less

Food & Nutrition

Most hospitals in San José include meals in their room charges. For companions, local restaurants offer nutritious meals at very affordable prices. Grocery delivery apps are widely available for longer stays.

Accommodation Costs (₡)

Budget Hotel / Night

₡24,000 ↓49%

US ₡46,800

Mid-Range Hotel / Night

₡57,600 ↓38%

US ₡93,600

Luxury Hotel / Night

₡172,800 ↓17%

US ₡208,000

Airbnb / Month

₡364,800 ↓72%

US ₡1,300,000

Apartment (City Centre)

₡480,000 ↓58%

US ₡1,144,000

Apartment (Outside Centre)

₡268,800 ↓68%

US ₡832,000

Item	₡	vs US
Budget Hotel / Night	24,000	49% less
Mid-Range Hotel / Night	57,600	38% less
Luxury Hotel / Night	172,800	17% less
Airbnb / Month	364,800	72% less
Apartment (City Centre)	480,000	58% less
Apartment (Outside Centre)	268,800	68% less

Stay Smart

For recovery stays of 2+ weeks, an Airbnb or serviced apartment near your hospital can be significantly cheaper than a hotel. Many hospitals also have tie-ups with nearby hotels offering discounted patient rates.

Healthcare Costs (₡)

Doctor Consultation

₡24,000 ↓77%

US ₡104,000

Hospital Room / Day

₡144,000 ↓92%

US ₡1,820,000

Basic Medicine

₡4,800 ↓38%

US ₡7,800

Travel Health Insurance / Day

₡3,840 ↓70%

US ₡13,000

Nursing Care / Day

₡48,000 ↓74%

US ₡182,000

Physiotherapy Session

₡24,000 ↓69%

US ₡78,000

Dental Checkup

₡19,200 ↓82%

US ₡104,000

Item	₡	vs US
Doctor Consultation	24,000	77% less
Hospital Room / Day	144,000	92% less
Basic Medicine	4,800	38% less
Travel Health Insurance / Day	3,840	70% less
Nursing Care / Day	48,000	74% less
Physiotherapy Session	24,000	69% less
Dental Checkup	19,200	82% less

Medical Tourist Tip

Healthcare in San José costs up to 88% less than the US. A hospital room is just ₡144,000/day compared to $3,500+ in the US. Many hospitals offer all-inclusive packages that cover room, nursing, and meals.

Transport Costs (₡)

Local Transport (Monthly)

₡19,200 ↓47%

US ₡36,400

Airport Taxi

₡17,280 ↓40%

US ₡28,600

Taxi per km

₡672 ↓35%

US ₡1,040

Fuel / Litre

₡768

US ₡520

Local SIM + Data

₡4,800 ↓77%

US ₡20,800

Item	₡	vs US
Local Transport (Monthly)	19,200	47% less
Airport Taxi	17,280	40% less
Taxi per km	672	35% less
Fuel / Litre	768	48% more
Local SIM + Data	4,800	77% less

Getting Around

Ride-hailing apps (Uber, local alternatives) are widely available and affordable. Many hospitals offer airport pickup services. Buy a local SIM card with data on arrival for navigation and communication.

Daily Life Costs (₡)

Internet / Month

₡14,400 ↓57%

US ₡33,800

Laundry / Load

₡2,880

US ₡2,080

Mobile Prepaid / Month

₡5,760 ↓78%

US ₡26,000

Clothes (Avg.)

₡19,200 ↓8%

US ₡20,800

Haircut

₡4,800 ↓63%

US ₡13,000

Movie Ticket

₡3,360 ↓57%

US ₡7,800

Gym / Month

₡24,000 ↓16%

US ₡28,600

Beer

₡1,920 ↓47%

US ₡3,640

Item	₡	vs US
Internet / Month	14,400	57% less
Laundry / Load	2,880	38% more
Mobile Prepaid / Month	5,760	78% less
Clothes (Avg.)	19,200	8% less
Haircut	4,800	63% less
Movie Ticket	3,360	57% less
Gym / Month	24,000	16% less
Beer	1,920	47% less

Daily Essentials

Day-to-day expenses in San José are very manageable. Wi-Fi is available at most hotels and hospitals. Laundry services, pharmacies, and convenience stores are easy to find near major medical centres.

Spending Breakdown

* Costs are approximate averages based on 2024–2025 data. Actual prices may vary by season and location.

San José is one of the leading medical tourism destinations in Costa Rica. The city offers world-class healthcare facilities with internationally trained doctors, cutting-edge technology, and significantly lower treatment costs compared to Western countries.

Why Choose San José for Medical Treatment?

San José is the hub of Costa Rican medical tourism, home to CIMA Hospital, Clínica Bíblica, and Hospital La Católica. The city excels in dental procedures, cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics, and bariatric surgery.

Medical Tourism in San José

Patients from around the world travel to San José for a wide range of medical treatments including cardiac surgery, orthopaedic procedures, oncology, cosmetic surgery, dental care, fertility treatments, and eye care. The city's hospitals are known for their JCI/NABH accreditation, multilingual staff, and dedicated international patient departments.

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